Effects of physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercise in patients with mild juvenile scoliosis

Study design A combined retrospective and prospective analysis on the therapeutic effect of physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercise (PSSE) in mild juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (JIS) patients. Background At present, patients with mild JIS are generally treated by observation without any interventional treatment. This study analyzed the effects of PSSE on mild JIS, which provided a new approach for the treatment of JIS. Method A total of 52 patients with mild JIS (Cobb angle 10-19 degrees), aged 4-9 years, self-selected into an observation group and a PSSE group. Patients performed the corrective posture exercises daily based on the Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) to the best of their ability, and performed the over-corrective training based on Schroth methods for 30 min each day. Before and one year after the treatment, the Cobb angle and the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) were evaluated, and the results were compared between the two groups. Results After one year of treatment, the Cobb angle in the PSSE group decreased from 15.0(11.0-17.0)degrees to 5.0(2.0-12.0)degrees(p <= 0.001), while the Cobb angle in the observation group increased from 13.5(11.0-17.3)degrees to 16.0(10.8-20.0)degrees (p = 0.010). The ATR in the PSSE group decreased from 5.0(2.0-7.0)degrees to 3.0(2.0-4.0)degrees (p = 0.009), while the change of ATR in the observation group was not significant. Compared with the observation group, 69.57% of patients in PSSE group had a decreased Cobb angle of more than 5 degrees, which was statistically significant(p <= 0.001). Conclusion For mild JIS, PSSE decreased the Cobb angle and ATR.